Fountain Toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush includes a housing having a handle and a toothbrush head, a pump having a pump chamber and a pump impeller or pump gear arranged in the pump chamber, and a motor driving the impeller or pump gear. An input port and an output port are connected to the chamber, the impeller causing a flow of a working fluid through the output port when the impeller is driven by the motor and the working fluid is supplied through the input port. The pump chamber has a circumferential wall defining a transverse cross section, the output port being connected to the pump chamber through the circumferential wall.

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/626,863 filed on Oct. 3, 2011 titled “Electric FountainToothbrush”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a manual toothbrush for brushing teethwith a pump configured to receive and redirect water from a faucet intoa fountain stream for rinsing after brushing teeth.

2. Description of Prior Art

Brushing teeth is an essential part of any oral hygiene routine.However, if a person is not at home, a cup may not be available for oralrinsing after brushing. Furthermore, even if a cup is available, cupscollect dirt and require frequent cleaning. The use of paper cups solvesthe problem of cleaning but is not environmentally friendly as itcreates waste. Water directly from a faucet may also be used, but it isdifficult to get the water from the faucet to a person's mouth without acup. It is difficult to carry enough water for rinsing in cupped handsand it is even more difficult to obtain the water directly into a user'smouth from the faucet.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,607,851 and 7,905,674, by the inventor of the presentapplication, disclose fountain toothbrushes that include open or closedchannels on the toothbrush housing to redirect water from a faucet backto the user in the form of a fountain. These channels are passive inthat they depend at least in part on the strength of the flow dischargedfrom the faucet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush thatfacilitates oral rinsing.

The object is met by a toothbrush including a housing having a handleand a toothbrush head, a pump having a pump chamber and a pump impelleror pump gear arranged in the pump chamber, and a motor driving theimpeller or pump gear. An input port and an output port are connected tothe chamber, the impeller causing a flow of a working fluid through theoutput port when the impeller is driven by the motor and the workingfluid is supplied through the input port. The pump chamber has acircumferential wall defining a transverse cross section of the pumpcasing, the output port being connected to the pump chamber through thecircumferential wall.

The output port includes a plurality of parallel channels according toone embodiment of the invention. The channels are separated by thinwalls that extend longitudinally through the output port. The outputport has an overall diameter of approximately 3.25 mm. The channel wallsor fins may be injection molded as part of the housing. Alternatively,these walls may be part of an extruded part that is inserted into theoutput port. In one specific embodiment, the web includes at least twowalls that are perpendicular to each other. It is also within the scopeof the present invention to use at least one fin or rib anchored at onlyone end to straighten the water flow. However, it is preferable to havea plurality of smaller channels separated by thin walls measuringbetween 0.10 mm in thickness and 0.70 mm in thickness.

According to an embodiment, the pump is a centrifugal pump. In thisembodiment, the output port extends radially outward from thecircumferential wall with respect to a rotating axis of the impeller.

According to another embodiment, the output port extends perpendicularto the circumferential wall at the area in which the output port isconnected to the chamber.

The input port may be covered with a filter. The filter may, forexample, be a plastic screen or a plastic grating and may be made of aless brittle and thereby less breakable alternative such as a hardrubber for improved safety. As such the impeller may also be made of ahard rubber.

The toothbrush according to another embodiment may further include aswitch for starting and stopping the motor. The switch is preferably amomentary switch that turns on the motor when pressed and turns off themotor when released.

According to another embodiment, the input port comprises a channelconfigured to receive water flowing from a faucet and is on a same sideof the housing as the output port.

According to another embodiment, the housing comprises two injectionmolded parts, defining an upper part and a lower part of the pumpchamber respectively.

According to another embodiment, at least the motor the impeller arearranged in a pump casing, wherein the pump casing is inserted into thehousing as a unit and overmolded in place by an overmolding material.The switch may also be inserted into the housing and overmolded inplace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features, functions, and advantages characterizing theinvention will be better understood by reference to the detaileddescription which follows, when viewing the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a toothbrush according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the components proximate a pumpchamber in the toothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an insert for the input port for thepump chamber of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 during use;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the toothbrushaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the pump chamber of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the pump chamber according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pump casing according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a toothbrush with the pump casing of FIG.9; and

FIG. 11 is a view of the toothbrush of FIG. 10 with the pump casingovermolded in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A toothbrush 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention isshown in FIG. 1. The toothbrush 100 has a housing 104 that includes anupper housing 104 a and a lower housing 104 b. Toothbrush bristles 112are arranged at a head portion of the toothbrush. The housing 104defines a pump chamber 101 accommodating an impeller 105, which isconnected to a motor 102. The motor 102 drives the impeller 105 torotate and the impeller draws water from an input port 108 and ejectswater through an output port 109, as will be described in more detailbelow. The motor 102 comprises a coreless DC motor such as model 615 or716.

A battery 103 is arranged between two electric contacts 103 a, 103 b inthe housing 104 and is connected to the motor 102 through a switch 122.According to the present embodiment, the switch 122 is a momentarytactile switch that activates the motor when the switch is pressed andturns off the motor 102 upon release of pressure from the switch 122.Although a momentary tactile switch is used in the present embodiment,any other type of electrical switch could be used to turn the motor 102on and off. The switch 122 is arranged on a switch assembly 120, whichincludes a base 123 on which the switch 122 is mounted. The base 123 isconnected to the upper housing 104 a using connecting elements such asthreaded fasteners 124, i.e., screws or bolts. A pushbutton 120 ismounted on the switch assembly 120 or on the upper housing 104 a and ismanipulated by a user to activate the switch 122.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the relative locations of the input port108, the output port 109, and the pushbutton 121 on the upper housing104 a of the toothbrush. The input port 108 includes an upper rimportion 108 a and side rim portions 108 b. Accordingly, the input port108 is designed to guide or direct any water that strikes the upperhousing 104 a of the toothbrush 100 between the bristles 112 and theupper rim 108 a into the pump chamber 101.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed view of the pump chamber 101 and surroundingcomponents. The impeller 105 is arranged in the pump chamber 101 and ismounted on a motor shaft 132, or a shaft drivably connected to the motorshaft, and is rotated by the motor 102. The rotation of the impeller 105causes water in the chamber 101 to be ejected through the output port109. The rotation of the impeller 105 also draws water into the chamber101. As shown in FIG. 3, the motor shaft 132 is inserted through acollar or bushing 130. A seal 115 between the bushing 130 and thehousing 104 prevents water from exiting the pump chamber 101.

As shown in FIG. 3, a filter 114 is arranged between the input port 108and the chamber 101. The filter 114 is in the form of a grating and ismade, e.g., from injection molded plastic and/or rubber. The filter 114prevents large objects from entering the pump chamber 101 to preventdamage to the impeller and to prevent injury to a user. In addition, theoutput port 109 includes an insert 109 a (see also FIG. 4) withlongitudinal fins 109 b that separate the output port into a pluralityof channels 109 c. The insert can be an extruded plastic with a fin orweb wall thickness t no greater than 1 mm. It is preferred that the finor web wall thickness t is not greater than 0.65 mm. In a most preferredembodiment, the web wall thickness t is less than or equal to 0.2 mm.The overall diameter of the output port 109 is not greater than 5 mm andis preferably approximately 3.25 mm. All parameters are approximate andmay vary based on manufacturing tolerances.

The insert 109 a as shown in FIG. 3 may extend through part of thelength of the output port 109. However the fins 109 b should extend atleast one half of the length of the output port 109. The fins 109 b andchannels 109 c facilitate the formation of a fountain of water flow outof the output port 109 in a fountain. Without the insert 109 a, thewater spreads more is not in the form of a fountain. Instead of using aninsert 109 a, the fins 109 b could be molded into the upper housing 104b.

FIG. 5 illustrates the intended use of the toothbrush 100. A user holdthe toothbrush 100 so that a stream of water 118 from a faucet entersthe input port 108. As shown in FIG. 4, the user's thumb pressespushbutton 121 to activate the motor and the pump ejects a fountain 129of water from the output port 109.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which the input port 108′ andoutput port 109′ open on the lower side of the toothbrush 100′. In boththe FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 embodiments, the pushbutton 121 for activating theswitch may be arranged on the same side of the toothbrush as the housingor on the opposite side.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the pump chamber 101 shown in FIG. 1. Thecircumferential wall 150 of the pump chamber 101 is circular. The waterto be pumped enters the chamber 101 axially through the input port 108and exits radially through the output port 109. The impeller 105 in FIG.7 is depicted as an impeller of a centrifugal pump. The output port of acentrifugal pump is normally arranged tangential to the circumference ofthe pump chamber. However, for the purposes of the toothbrush body, itis better to be in the middle of the top of the toothbrush.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment using a gear pump. The gear pumpincludes a drive gear 160 and an idler gear 162. Water enters a suctionport, i.e., input port 108″ from a front of the pump and ejects waterout of the output port 109. Here the axis of the drive gear is offsetfrom a center of the toothbrush. Thus, the motor will have to beconnected by a gear so that the motor is in the middle of thetoothbrush. It is within the scope of the present invention tosubstitute a gear pump with a Lobe pump, a Rotary Vane pump, an axialpump or peristaltic pump.

FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment in which the motor 102, the impeller105, and the filter 114 are arranged in a pump casing 170. Here thebushing 130 is not required because stresses are absorbed by the pumpcasing during installation. As shown in FIG. 10, the pump casing can beinstalled into a housing piece 204 as a unit. Likewise, the switchassembly 120 can be installed into the housing piece 204. Onceinstalled, the pump casing 170 and the switch assembly can be overmoldedby a injection molded material 206. In the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and11, the housing includes a removable battery cover 180. The cover 180may alternatively comprise an opening at an end of the of thetoothbrush.

An offset weight can be placed on the shaft of the motor to cause thetoothbrush to vibrate to create a Sonic Toothbrush with Pulsating Headand Built-in Power Fountain in one.

A water jet waterpick flossing attachment comprising a pvc tube andmolded plastic nozzle handle can be attached to the exit hole to convertthe present invention into a small portable electric water jet flosser.

The present invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiments. It should be understood that the scope of the presentinvention is defined by the claims and is not intended to be limited tothe specific embodiments disclosed herein. For example, elements ofspecific embodiments may be used with other embodiments withoutdeviating from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toothbrush, comprising: a housing having ahandle and a toothbrush head; a pump having a pump chamber and a pumpimpeller or pump gear arranged in the pump chamber; a motor driving theimpeller or pump gear; and an input port and an output port connected tothe chamber, the impeller causing a flow of a working fluid through theoutput port when the impeller is driven by the motor and the workingfluid is supplied through the input port, the pump chamber havingcircumferential wall defining the cross section, the output port beingconnected to the pump chamber through the circumferential wall.
 2. Thetoothbrush of claim 1, wherein the output port includes a plurality ofparallel channels.
 3. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the channelsare separated by thin walls that extend longitudinally through theoutput port.
 4. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the output port hasan overall diameter of approximately 3.25 mm.
 5. The toothbrush of claim3, wherein the fins or web are injection molded as part of the housing.6. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the fins or web are part of anextruded part that is inserted into the output port.
 7. The toothbrushof claim 3, wherein the fins include at least two fins that areperpendicular to each other.
 8. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein thepump is a centrifugal pump.
 9. The toothbrush of claim 8, wherein theoutput port extends radially outward from the circumferential wall withrespect to a rotating axis of the impeller.
 10. The toothbrush of claim1, wherein the output port extends perpendicular to the circumferentialwall at the area in which the output port is connected to the chamber.11. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the input port is covered with afilter.
 12. The toothbrush of claim 11, therein the filter is a plasticscreen or a plastic grating.
 13. The toothbrush of claim 1, furthercomprising a switch for starting an stopping the motor.
 14. Thetoothbrush of claim 13, wherein the switch is a momentary switch thatturns on the motor when pressed and turns off the motor when released.15. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the input port comprises achannel configured to receive water flowing from a faucet and is on asame side of the housing as the output port.
 16. The toothbrush of claim1, wherein the housing comprises two injection molded parts, defining anupper part and a lower part of the pump chamber respectively.
 17. Thetoothbrush of claim 1, wherein at least the motor the impeller arearranged in a pump casing, wherein the pump casing is inserted into thehousing and overmolded in place.
 18. The toothbrush of claim 13, whereinat least the motor the impeller are arranged in a pump casing, whereinthe pump casing and the switch are inserted into the housing andovermolded in place.
 19. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein an offsetweight is placed on the motor shaft to cause it to vibrate for improvedbrushing.
 20. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the pump is a Lobepump, Rotary Vane pump, Axial pump or peristaltic pump.